Finding photographs

Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:22 am

Let's say that I have the identity of a war time aircraft; serial number, group and squadron assignment even flight crew identities. How would I find war time photographs of the aircraft? Are there websites or collectors that could find photos? I would give the information except it is all at home. I can say that the aircraft was a North African based B25G lost at a Greek island late 1943 or early 1944 IIRC.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:29 am

Goggle the Bomb Group or Squadron to see if they have their own web site or association. Google for B-25 groups, there are a number of those. That might be a good place to start. There are vintage WW2 aviation photo collectors out there as well

Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:58 pm

All you have to do is post it here on WIX. On a good day you will have an answer or photo in about 18 minutes or right after Jack Cook reads your post. And/or a few others.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:39 pm

You can also Google the serial number of the aircraft.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:22 pm

You can try here.

http://www.armyairforces.com/

Mike

Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:22 am

Thanks for the replies. The AAF site looks great. I can't do a lot of research at work but will try what I can at breaks.

Here is the information. B-25G S/N 42-64579 of the 321st Bomb Group. The plane may have been of the 446th Bomb Squadron but most of the crew was the 445 Bomb Squadron. Apparently all the G models (a gun nose variant with 75mm cannon) of the Group were put into a "G" Squadron operating as a detachment from Gambut, Libya. The aircraft was flown by Lt. Gordon Black apparently a newbie. They were shot down attacking Naxos harbor Greece on October 30, 1943 with no survivors. They were escorted by a pair of British Beaufighters one of which was also shot down. One member of the crew was on punishment digging latrines in Gambut and missed the flight, his substitute was from the 446th Sq.

Interestingly this summer an intact Beaufighter was discovered in the sea near Naxos. My interest is the radioman/gunner Arthur W. Lang who was the only son of my Grandfather's best friend.